Waymo to end Uber partnership in Austin and Atlanta in 2028
Waymo will exit its Uber partnership in Austin and Atlanta in January 2028 to offer rides directly through its own app. The move aims to ensure a consistent rider experience, though Uber disputes the rationale.
Waymo will officially split with Uber in the Austin and Atlanta markets starting in January 2028, according to co-CEO Takidra Mawakana. The robotaxi company will instead offer rides directly through its own smartphone app, similar to its operations in other cities. Mawakana confirmed earlier reporting that Waymo was seeking to exit its deal with Uber, which was set to expire in May 2028. She stated that Waymo initially partnered with Uber for scale but that the rider experience has been inconsistent because passengers do not know if they will get a robotaxi or a human-driven car. Mawakana emphasized the importance of maintaining a direct relationship with riders based on feedback from those markets. Uber stated that it was Waymo's idea not to add an option in the Uber app to book a robotaxi directly. Waymo argued that direct-to-consumer service is necessary to ensure a consistent rider experience, while Uber maintained that the decision to remove direct booking options originated with Waymo.